Apparatus for axially aligning and precisely fixing the position of light bulbs having tapered envelopes



Se t. 22, 1970 J. T. GULLIKSEN 3,530,376

APPARATUS FOR AXIALLY ALIGNING AND PRECISELY FIXINGVTHE POSITION OF LIGHT BULBS HAVING TAPEREDENVELOPES Filed Jan. 25, 1968 FIG. 2

mvsnron JOHNTGULLIKSEN AV Armlmfrfi United States Patent 3,530,376 APPARATUS FOR AXIALLY ALIGNING AND PRECISELY FIXING THE POSITION OF LIGHT BULBS HAVING TAPERED ENVELOPES John T. Gulliksen, Peekskill, N.Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 699,855 Int. Cl. G01r 31/22 US. Cl. 324--20 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Lens end light bulbs with outwardly tapering envelopes are aligned in apparatus so that the lens is at a fixed axial distance from light receptive means by a pair of annular collars having a common axis which passes through the light receptive means. The first annular collar seats the lens end of the bulb and the second collar engages the tapered portion of the bulb envelope. The second collar is axially movable, of a greater diameter than said first collar and axially spaced from said first collar. Tension means normally urge said second collar away from the first collar. The light bulb to be aligned is pressed against the tension means into engagement with the collars.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention relates to apparatus for aligning light bulbs. More particularly, it relates to apparatus for aligning lens end light bulbs which conventionally have envelopes tapering outwardly from the lens end.

Description of the prior art Lens end light bulbs are extensively used in document reading equipment. Information recorded as apertures in perforated cards or tapes is read by units in which the perforated card or tape is passed between the lens end bulb and a suitable light receptor, such as a photocell. Because of the physical specifications of such equipment, the bulb is required to provide a spot of light of predetermined intensity and dimensions properly focused on the light reception means.

In the production of such lens end bulbs, it is necessary to test each bulb in order to determine whether it comes Within previously mentioned critical requirements. The very narrow tolerances in the specifications for these lens end bulbs makes it essential that the test conditions be substantially free of undesirable variations. In testing these bulbs, it has been conventional practice to maintain the end of the bulb a predetermined distance from light receptive means which measure the intensity of the light produced by the bulb being tested.

It has been found that in such conventional tests a substantial percentage of bulbs which are actually within the required specifications have been improperly rejected because a misalignment of the bulb in the test equipment resulted in an incorrect intensity reading on the test equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides apparatus for axially aligning light bulbs so that each light bulb placed in the test apparatus will be aligned in the same axial position and that the lenses will be oriented in a constant position at a fixed distance from the light reception means.

The apparatus for axially aligning light bulbs which have envelopes tapering outwardly from the envelope ends comprises a pair of coaxial annular collars axially spaced from each other. A light bulb inserted into the apparatus 3,536,376 Patented Sept. 22, 1970 is aligned by the apparatus so that the axis of the light bulb is coincident with the common axis of the two collars. The first collar is adapted to seat the end of the light bulb envelope and the second collar is adapted to engage the tapered portion of said envelope. The second collar is axially movable and is axially urged away from the first collar by tension means. Means are provided for pressing the light bulb envelope against said tension means into engagement with both of said collars.

In the alignment of a lens end light bulb, in addition to the previously mentioned axial alignment, the lens must be maintained at a predetermined axial distance from light receptive means, e.g., a light receptive means such as a photocell in light bulb testing apparatus. In such apparatus, the two collars are positioned so that their common axis passes through the light receptive means and the first collar is at a fixed distance from said light receptive means.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide apparatus for axially aligning light bulbs.

It is another object to provide apparatus for axially aligning light bulbs having envelopes tapering outwardly from the envelope end.

It is a further object to provide apparatus for axially aligning lens end light bulbs.

It is still a further object to provide apparatus for axially aligning lens end light bulbs and for fixing the position of the lenses at a predetermined position along the axis of the aligned bulb.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description and preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, partial, sectional view of one embodiment of the apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic, partial, sectional view of another embodiment of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, tapered lens end light bulb 10 is shown in engagement with aligning apparatus 11 in alignment on axis A with lens 12 at the end of the bulb at a predetermined distance D from photocell means 13. Annular collar 14 is formed in sleeve 15 which is supported in a fixed position on platform 16 aflixed to posts 17. Bulb 10 has envelope 18 which tapers outwardly from the lens end of the envelope which is seated against the inner walls 19 of collar 14. Collar 20 which is slidably mounted along axis A within sleeve 15 has inner Wall portion 21 in engagement with tapered, intermediate portion 22 of bulb 10. Spring means 23 act upon collar 20, urging it away from collar 14. Axis A is the axis of collars 14 and 20.

Platform 24, which is slidably mounted so as to ride within sleeve 25, is urged by spring means 26 to act against light bulb base 27 to press the light bulb against the tension provided by spring means 23 so that lamp envelope 18 engages both collars 14 and 20. Current is applied to leads 28 of bulb 10 and the intensity of the light spot produced by bulb 10 is determined by means of photocell means 13. In order to remove the bulb, platform 24 is lowered to permit bulb 10 to move out of engagement with collars 14 and 20.

With reference to FIG. 2, the embodiment shown performs the same function as that of FIG. 1 in a similar fashion, Bulb 29 is aligned along axis A with its lens end 30 at a fixed distance D from photocell means 31.

The inner walls of collar 32 engage the lens end of the bulb while the inner walls of collar 32, which is slidably mounted along axis A, engage an intermediate portion of the outwardly tapering wall of the envelope of light bulb 29. Spring means 34 urges collar 33 away from collar 32. Bulb base 35 is mounted within axially slidable insertion member 36. Electrical contacts 37 and 38 on slidable member 36 provide current to the base of the bulb. Spring means 39 act upon slidable member 36 to press the bulb against the tension means of spring 34 into engagement with collars 32 and 33. In order to permit the bulb to be disengaged from collars 32 and 33, slidable member 36 is lowered.

Although the device of the present invention has been specifically described with respect to light bulb testing equipment, it should be clear that the light bulb retaining structure is utilizable in any system where it is necessary to achieve precise axial alignment of a light bulb. For example, the structure is capable of incorporation into conventional document reading equipment in which precise alignment of the light bulb providing the light spot is very important.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for axially aligning a light bulb having an envelope tapering outwardly from the envelope end comprising:

a first annular collar for seating the envelope end,

a second axially movable collar for engaging the tapered portion of said envelope, said second collar being coaxial with said first collar, of a greater diameter than said first collar and axially spaced from said first collar,

tension means axially urging said second collar away from said first collar, and

means in contact with said bulb for moving said bulb against said tension means into engagement with both of said collars.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first collar has a fixed position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tension means are spring means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner walls of the first collar are outwardly tapered.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the inner walls of the second collar are outwardly tapered.

6. Apparatus for aligning the lens of a lens end light bulb having an envelope tapering outwardly from the lens wherein the lens is at a fixed axial distance from light receptive means comprising:

a first annular collar having an axis passing through said light receptive means and being positioned to seat the lens end of the bulb at said fixed distance from said light receptive means,

a second axially movable collar for engaging the tapered portion of said envelope, said second collar being coaxial with said first collar, of a greater diameter than said first collar and axially spaced from said first collar,

tension means axially urging said second collar away from said first collar, and

means in contact with said bulb for moving said bulb against said tension means into engagement with both of said collars.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said tension means are spring means.

*8. Apparatus for testing lens end light bulbs having envelopes tapering outwardly from the lens comprising:

light receptive means,

a first annular collar having an axis passing through said light receptive means and being positioned at a fixed, predetermined axial distance from said light receptive means for receiving the lens end of the bulb,

a second axially movable collar of a greater diameter than said first collar, coaxial with said first collar and axially spaced from said first collar,

tension means axially urging said second collar away from said first collar, and

means in contact with said bulb for moving said bulb' against said tension means into engagement with both of said collars.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said light receptive means are photocell means.

10. Apparatus for axially aligning a light bulb having a tapered envelope comprising:

a first annular collar for seating a narrow, tapered portion of the envelope,

a second axially movable collar of a greater diameter than the first collar and coaxial with said first collar, said second collar being axially spaced from said first collar and for engaging a wider tapered portion of said envelope,

tension means axially urging said second collar away from said first collar, and

means in contact with said bulb for moving said bulb against said tension means into engagement with both of said collars.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first collar is in a fixed position along its axis.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,275,150 3/1942 Kenney 240-641 2,765,440 10/1956 Adelman 324-20 2,833,984 5/ 1958 Eickholf. 2,916,699 12/ 1959 Eisenberg 324-53 XR 3,214,173 10/1965 Vidal 240-641 ,XR 3,333,184 7/1967 Adelman 324-20 RUDOLPH V. ROLINEC, Primary Examiner E. L. STOLARUN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

